RAJA
Palace Building in India
Dear readers! The setting for this strategic board game can be found in the northwest of the Indian sub-continent, in the province of Rajasthan, to be more exact. And even a European who does not have much time for art and culture is not left unmoved by the „enchantingly beautiful buildings, temples, mosques, palaces, fortification and mausoleums” of India. In this tactical-strategic development game you take up the role of a renowned medieval prince who rules a province and aims to become First among all favorites of the Maharaja. To achieve this goal you must keep constructing magnificent palaces and houses, always under conditions permanent, strangling lack of money. Relive the dilemma of those princes in a game of 90 to 120 minutes with sumptuous components and secure for yourself the palace buildings necessary for your prime ranking with clever tactics, bluff and trading. [From WIN330]. Author’s note: Raja was my my very first review for the perpetual and yet so modern and actual games journal of the Austrian Games Museum in Leopoldsdorf. www.spielen.at
The light of our lamp picks out a spreading game board in the classic manner, showing seven Indian towns in tilted bird’s view; all towns feature city walls and a cupola symbol for seven palaces. A network of paths, similar to a spider’s net, connects those towns of the Maharaja. Where ever the Maharaja happens to be, you, the princes, are richly rewarded for the palaces and houses you so painstakingly constructed. Seven different City Coats of Arms, which are displayed openly next to the board, determine the visiting schedule of the Maharaja and thus the schedule for scoring. Next to the board you also place a stock of houses and money, and also six - or seven in the expert version - confidants who aid the respective princes with their special abilities. Raja is played over a maximum of ten rounds. The course of the game is clearly structured, albeit not always easy to implement by players. A round of the game comprises four steps: (1) The Maharaja and a Coat of Arms are placed into the city about to be scored. (2) All players mark two actions on their spinner. (3) Actions are implemented according to the numbering of the confidants and playing pieces, called architects, are moved, (4) Finally, the city holding the Maharaja is scored. This sounds rather simply, and, technically speaking, it is simple. But the devil as usually is in the details; as gold coins come from the bank, new houses from general stock (quarry), available houses are built and relocated, scoring order of cities is changed and new character cards can be chosen the result is a remarkable depth for the game as regards to strategy and tactic; which is supported by a very convincing design: The palaces are made from colored glass beads, houses and architects from elegant wood. It is an esthetical pleasure to look at a game in progress. As so often before, Franz Vohwinkel has done an excellent graphics job!
Comments to: hugo.kastner@chello.at
Homepage: www.hugo-kastner.at
RECOMMENDATION # 85
Players: 1-5
Age: 12+
Designer: Wolfgang Kramer, Michael Kiesling
Art: Franz Vohwinkel
Time: 90+
Price: ca. 15 Euro
Year: 2004
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Tactic: 4 von 9
Info±: 4 von 9
Chance: 1 von 9
Besides using some tactical instincts you need to calculate well: How many points can be gleaned from the current city by me and by my opponents? Do I have enough money to implement my two chosen action at the time when it is my turn? You must also consider which town will be the next stop for the Maharaja, because there is always the threat of somebody changing the scoring order. A small lack of attention can result in dramatic consequences later on.
Hugos EXPERT TIP
To players who like to play challenging games that can fill an evening and who play at a similar speed, Raja can be absolutely recommended, especially when four or five princes are assembled around the table. For two and three players, which can play Raja as well according to the rules, there is noticeably less dynamics in the game, despite the expert rules recommended in the rules, using a 7th confidant, the Yogi, who allows you a third action in your turn, and despite a special auction of the starting confidants cards and a home town assigned to each confidant. The particularly alluring switch of persona really only comes into play for the full allocation of players.
Hugos FLASHLIGHT
Raja offers a lot for the experienced player. A casual player must prepare himself for an extended period of getting acquainted with the game. You should try to assemble four or five friends in order to make use of all the game elements demanding high levels of concentration. The action discs are something special; you use them to choose two out of nine possible actions, quite an embarras des richesses. On those discs the game is won or lost, they are where the princes can demonstrate cleverness and their abilities to bluff, but sometimes those discs also create long down-times during the game. Anyway, besides hours full of decisions you are rewarded with marvelous game components
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